At this time of year, excitement is in the air. The season has ended, the rumour mill is in full flow and expectations are building up for the forthcoming season.
Budding fans of all clubs want to represent their team in any way they can and getting a football shirt is the most common way of showing their allegiance.
However, the question is: Which Reds’ player deserves to go on your shirt?
New Signings
When your team acquires a new player, many fans will eagerly rush to get this new talent on their back. So far this summer, four new players have entered into Klopp’s plans; Sadio Mane, Marko Grujic, Joel Matip and Loris Karius. Defenders and Goalkeepers aren’t usually the common pick, being more of an acquired taste so don’t expect thousands to be flying around with bright green Karius shirts anytime soon. Grujic is very unproven and is a raw talent, meaning the excitement for him is mostly based on curiosity. Being the marquee signing of the summer (so far), Manè is a very safe choice and the pick of this bunch. A highly rated and highly priced attacker is sure to encourage fans to spend, with money bags in the eyes of the owners when it comes to Manè.
Existing Players
Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge and Emre Can. Just four of the Liverpool fans favourites that are sure to be popular amongst the shirt sales. Coutinho is the late bloomer of Liverpool. The Inter outcast was nurtured properly at Anfield and made into one of Europe’s hottest talents currently in football. Fans adore him and know he lives and breathes LFC. Rarely injured and rarely lacklustre, Coutinho is a safe choice for a fans back.
His Brazilian counterpart is also an excellent choice. Firmino came into his own under Klopp and showed all of his traits he was famed for when he was the golden boy of Hoffenheim. This season could be electric for Firmino and he is a player who is definitely capable of great things. Fans will be a bit more dubious when it comes to purchasing his shirt due to his inconsistency, but when he is on form, he is certainly the best player on the pitch.
Another player who has world class qualities but rarely shows them is Sturridge. The best striker in the Premier League when he plays, Sturridge is always a fixture in the Liverpool team when fit. The problem is, he is never fit. It’s very disheartening to purchase a shirt of a part time player so this is the more marmite choice of the clubs big name players.
Finally, Liverpool’s engine. Their architect, their wall, their go-to man: Emre Can. This man has worked his way into the hearts of the fans, showing nothing less than 200% effort, 100% of the time. What now seems a bargain, Emre was a little known, versatile player when signed in the summer of 2014. Now, he is a German international who has tournament experience. A big hole was left in the midfield when Gerrard moved to America and Emre Can has shown all the qualities to not only fill it, but own it. The more hipster choice but one that cannot be laughed at.
A Former Player
When I say former player, I mean Mr Liverpool himself. Steven Gerrard. A living Liverpool legend, Stevie will forever remain in the hearts of the Anfield faithful. Its not uncommon to for many fans of other clubs to get former players on their shirts, but no player meant as much to a set of fans or a club than Steven Gerrard. The amount of memories this man lead the club to will never be forgotten and in my opinion, he is not only the greatest captain to ever grace LFC, but the greatest player too.
